All days are not created equal. Some mornings, you wake up full of energy and joy. We call these days Saturdays. Other days, it seems like it’s been 3pm for at least two full hours. No matter how fantastic or sluggish your day is set up to be, there are a few things you can do to bring that weekend warrior spirit to the weekday.

1. EAT BREAKFAST As a dedicated breakfast enthusiast, I don’t understand skipping breakfast. It doesn’t have to complicated, I have been eating a toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwich every morning for years. It doesn’t even have to be breakfast food, as long as you eat to start your day.

2. SMILE LIKE A MANIACI read on a blog a few years ago about a girl who would start her morning by smiling like a crazy person into the mirror for five minutes after she did her makeup. This includes a big, fake smile, keeping your eyes wide, and letting your whole face smile. I do this in the car when I drive because I like to entertain my fellow commuters. Or I have a list of go-to youtube videos that do the trick. When you relieve your face of stress and worry, you are allowing positive energy to take over, releasing some endorphins to your brain. The physical act of smiling (even it is fake) pushes on major facial nerves, that naturally release tension. This is the principle behind Lion's breath. Smiling, laughing, or positive face movements all work to reduce stress and make your day a little better.

3. SCHEDULE WORRY TIMEIndividuals tend to spend their time thinking about past events and how they could have gone better or thinking about the future. While both are positive, when they become obsessive and take over our day-to-day dealings, they can become intrusive to remaining present. For now, just acknowledge your worries, put them in a bubble, and let them float away. An old school technique of cognitive behavior therapy advises us to set aside some time to worry, rather than letting it dominate your life or forcing yourself to ignore your problems. Sit down for 15-30 minutes at some point in the day and write a list of what you need to do and how. This gives you some control over parts of your life that seem to be out of your grasp. While we are not just faucets of backed up negative thinking that can be drained all at once, it helps manage stress and allows you to make better decisions than ignoring problems and letting them pile up, adding to your worries.

4. MAKE TIME FOR LOVED ONESAt our worst, it is easy to take your network of friends and families for granted. The more you isolate yourself, the only company you keep is your negative thoughts. Take your daughter out for ice cream, go get acupuncture with your mom, or offer to babysit your nephew. Social ties are kind of like a home base. Even a quick text message or phone call can make you feel more bonded and grounded in your social community. If all these suggestions are making you feel more anxious, take yourself out on a date. After all, you better be on your list of loved ones!

It is easy to be cynical and pessimistic. It’s fashionable, even. If you begin to manage your stress and anxiety in simple, everyday ways, you will see long term results. Many of these techniques can help you sleep better, which is the biggest key to improving your day. It goes without saying that acupuncture can help you smile more, forget your worries, and feel like you’re part of a community.

Behind the Voices

Jenny Chen is an award-winning multimedia journalist and science writer. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, Time.com, and NPR member stations. She was formerly the editor-in0chief of a local Asian American news magazine called Asian Fortune. Jenny is an avid fan or acupuncture and holistic medicine - and especially a fan of OurSpace!

Farris grew up in Georgia and worked for years as a youth wilderness counselor, teacher, and tutor before moving to Maryland to pursue a degree in acupuncture. A recent Tai Sophia graduate, he is committed to bringing affordable acupuncture and wellness education to groups in the DC Metro area. As Farris puts it, “I am continually amazed that tiny pins inserted just under the surface of the skin and a thoughtful question by a practitioner helped heal my shoulder, strengthen my bladder, and lift my depression; the same medicine has allowed me to help others heal their necks, stomachs, cancers, and spirits. I believe acupuncture is the answer to crises of healthcare, community, and ultimately the planet."